Improvement in trimming guard-knives



F. H. LANDER & A. c. HILL.

Trimming Guard Knife. i

N'0.125,578 l Patented April 9,1872.

messes. l /77/1/6//1/0731 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREEDOM LANDER AND AMBROSE C. HILL, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN TRIMMING GUARD-KNIVES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 125,578, dated April 9, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, F. H. LANDER and A.

C. HILL, of Lynn, in the county of Essex and in the State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trimming Guard-Knives; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making a part of this specification, in which- Figure lis a plan view of the under or cutting side of our device. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same; and Fig. 3 is a cross-scction on line a: .r of Fig. l.

Letters. of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

Our invention is an improvement in a class of devices employed for trimming the edges of boot or shoe soles; and it consists in the peculiar construction and attachment of the adjustable gauge, substantially as and for the' A purpose hereinafter specified.`

In the annexed drawing, A represents the blade, and B the handle of an ordinary shoemakers-knife, the cutting-edge of which is in-4 clined toward its back at an angle of ten degrees or thereabout from a point about one inch from the end of said blade to said end. Fitted to or upon the blade A in rear of its inclined portion is a metal guard, C, which embraces one side and the front and rear edges of the same with sufficient firniess to cause said parts to maintain their relative positions, while at the same time permitting of their ready separation when desired. The outer portion C of the guard C curves rearward and outward, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. l, and at its outer end c turns squarely forward so as to embrace the end of the blade,

said end also being extended downward below the opposite side of said blade and given a wedge-shaped form transversely.

As thus constructed, the device forms a tool which is commonly used by shoemakers for trimming the edges of soles, to which end the guide c is inserted within the groove between the same and the upper with the blade bearing upon said sole and cutting the same when drawn forward.

Experience has shown, however, that in the hands of even experienced workmen the utmost skilland care are required, in order that no injury shall be done to the work. To remedy this difficulty, and render easy and certain the operation of the device, we add to the front portion of the guard C a metal bar, D, which extends along the same to its outer end, and from thence follows the line of the sloping edge of the blade to or immediately within the guide c, the inclined arm of saidv bar being rounded and slightly above the edge of said blade. y

The bar or gauge D is attached to or upon the guard by means of two screws, E, which pass inward through suitable slots d provided in and through said gauge, which slots are placed transversely so as to permit said gauge to have a certain amount of vertical motion with relation to the sides of the blade, and enable it to be placed at a greater or less distance from the cutting-edge of the latter.

If, now, the gauge be adjusted with relation to the cutting-edge of the knife, so as to give space between for the desired thickness of shaving that is designed to remove from the leather, and the device used in the ordinary manner, it will be found that said gauge not only regulates the thickness of leather removed at each cut, but also causes the knife to move with great ease and without the possibility of injury to the work. j

When it is desired to bevel the edges of the sole inward and upward the gauge can be so adjusted as to cause the knife to cut a thicker shaving at its point than at its. inner end.

The especial advantages possessed by this device are, that by its use comparatively unskilled labor can be made available in the production of good work, while in the hands ofl an expert a large increase results in the amount of work performed within a given time.

K. Having thus fully set forth the nature and have hereunto set our hands and sea-1s this mrts of our invention, what We claim as new 17th day 0f February, 1872.

The gauge D, constructed as shown, and combined with the guard C, the guide c, and the blade, A, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing We FREEDOM H. LANDER. [L s.] AMBROSE C. HILL. [14. S.]

WVitnesse-s:

TRUE O. NORRIS, A. F. L. NORRIS. 

